Lukashenko gave instructions and assessed goods at exhibition dedicated to Quality Mark
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, is holding today a meeting at the Palace of Independence dedicated to the main directions of work to improve quality in 2024 and the State Quality Mark of the Republic of Belarus. Before the start of the event, the Head of State got acquainted with the Quality Mark: Tradition of the Past and the Present mini-exhibition, organised in the Palace of Independence.
The exposition displays the country’s best enterprises, which have traditionally preserved the high quality of their goods since the times of the Soviet Union and have been awarded the USSR Quality Mark. The heads of organisations and labour veterans who were at the forefront of awarding the USSR Quality Mark presented the President with samples that fully reflected the characteristics of products manufactured in the USSR and at the present time.
BelAZ: superior to American and Japanese competitors
The first stand that the Belarusian leader visited was BelAZ – Management Company of BelAZ-Holding. Acting Director General Sergei Lesin spoke about the BelAZ 540 model, which was awarded the USSR Quality Mark in 1967. Today the company expects to receive the State Quality Mark of Belarus for its BelAZ 7513 model (with a carrying capacity of 130-136 tonnes), which has been produced since 1996. At present, 8 out of 10 mining dump trucks of this capacity sold worldwide are BelAZ vehicles.
“Because they don’t take such vehicles anywhere else?” the Head of State specified.
Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchik reported that all BelAZ’s global competitors (including American and Japanese) produce similar models, but in this niche our manufacturer is the undisputed leader, beating its foreign rivals.
“I believe in this, but why are we leaders here? Because they [competitors] are leaving?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked again.
“This model is called the ‘Kalashnikov assault rifle’. Siberians assess it as reliable, failsafe, easy to maintenance, operate and, most importantly, efficient in terms of productivity and low operating costs. Today it is presented in 12 modifications and 140 designs,” said Sergei Lesin.
MTZ: when will tractor become completely Belarus-made?
Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) Director General Vitaly Vovk showed the President the Belarus1222.3 tractor model, which is applying for the State Quality Mark. Meanwhile, some of the components are still imported. The President asked, “When will it be 100 percent Belarus-made?”
“We need two years,” assured Vitaly Vovk.
Goods must be unique
“We've agreed that BelAZ, MTZ, MAZ and so on simply have no choice but should have a State Quality Mark for some of their goods. But this item must be unique! It must be competitive in international markets, and the machinery must be impeccable!” the Head of State stressed, adding that no one will simply stamp the Quality Mark on the cabin or hood, since control will be very strict.
The Belarusian leader underlined, “Our main machine building companies must have goods with the Quality Mark, but these items must be unique in all respects. If we improve the quality of our goods, we’ll be indispensable in the world. We have everything. Our quality is not bad, but it needs to be improved to the level of the Quality Mark.”
MMZ: our own engines and important milestone in history
Director General of the Minsk Motor Plant (MMZ) Aleksandr Botvinnik presented the President with the D-50 engine – awarded the USSR Quality Mark in 1971 – and a series of new small-displacement engines, which are one and a half times lighter in weight, but exceed the last century’s models in power in the same amount while corresponding to all existing world analogues.
“We’ve agreed that MMZ would produce an engine for combine harvesters, the most powerful one we have,” the Head of State recalled.
Piotr Parkhomchik said that today engines for combine harvesters are purchased from Russian and Chinese manufacturers. At the same time, MMZ manufactures engines that have managed to replace imported items, and very famous ones and which are not produced in Russia.
“When will the issue on tractors be settled?” the President demanded. In particular, MTZ needs 350-500HP engines.
The Head of State was promised that in two years such an engine – a Belarusian one – would appear, specifying that it is necessary to develop technologies.
“It will be a very serious approach, not for the sake of image,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
An interesting point: Aleksandr Botvinnik brought to the exhibition the Belarusian leader’s entry in the MMZ guest book, penned on September 23rd, 1994.
This was the President’s first visit to an industrial enterprise in Belarus. Aleksandr Lukashenko wrote, “I first felt in recent time that we would break through. I’m sure!”
Already during the meeting, the Belarusian leader reminded the participants about this photo, “You saw the photograph there. This was one of my first visits to our giant companies. It was 1994. I really felt then that we would break through, since people were inspired to succeed. People got into such a mess that there was simply nowhere to go. We have made a breakthrough, and we are now creating the most advanced equipment. However, I should openly admit: we still lack quality.”
During the exposition, the President was also shown a MAZ dump truck, Horizont TV sets, products of the Integral company, Gomselmash harvesters, Kommunarka confectioneries, products under the Molochny Gostinets trademark, Kamvol’s fabrics and Svitanak’s clothing, which all compete to receive the State Quality Mark. At each stand, Aleksandr Lukashenko paid special attention to the topic of import substitution, as well as the localisation of domestic products.
